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Cybersecurity & the Department of Homeland Security

At the request of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano (the Secretary), the Aspen Cyber Working Group seeks to make recommendations to help prioritize and focus the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s or the Department’s) cyber activities. Cybersecurity, which includes data protection, information security and industrial control systems, represents a national security concern. As discussed below, DHS has significant authority to lead and coordinate, along with other civil agencies, the nation’s defensive capabilities including all civil cybersecurity and private sector issues. The Department of Defense (DoD) is responsible for our nation’s offensive cybersecurity capabilities, including cyber warfare. Under this framework, the following paper discusses the challenges and considerations that the Aspen Cyber Working Group believes are deserving of the Department’s attention.